Woman tells Royal Commission of racism she endured while in foster care

Warning: This story discusses racism and abuse and may be distressing for some people.

Witnesses giving evidence at a hearing into state abuse have described the racism they endured while in foster care.

Kathleen Coster was given away at birth to a Pākehā mother and father.

"I didn't know I was dark because growing up from zero to seven, when people said, 'Oh you've got a dark child there', she would say, 'Well she spends a lot of time in the sun'."

Across 10 different foster placements, she endured a resounding racist message and was referred to as a dirty child.

"A dirty child is someone who doesn't come clean when you scrub them, [referring to] my skin colour," Coster said.

"And I remember listening to them saying, 'Maybe we could bleach her skin to make it lighter'."

It was a message that led to her denying her whakapapa until she was 30 years old. 

"When you're conditioned that Māori people beat their kids up, they drink lots of alcohol, and you're Māori you're never going to be any different. As a child you believe that," Coster said.

Coster is the third generation of her family to have been in state care. Her experience was echoed among survivors of abuse at the 12th Royal Commission hearing. 

"I wasn’t allowed to play sports, wasn't allowed to have friends. I was just there to be a little working n****r," one man said.

Psychologists speaking at the hearing acknowledged the state care system, which was set up in the 1900s, catered first and foremost for Pākehā children. 

The state felt Māori culture should be assimilated.

"When I write reports I write that colonisation creates generational trauma," said Dr Sarah Calvert.

The foster system is not only separating children from their families but also their culture. 

"I have never been involved in a case where there's only been one mokopuna involved," said Dr Tania Cargo.

And Cargo said a review of the state system should place cultural identity at the forefront. 

"Those cultural attachments need to be cemented at the first point," she said.

So children who grow up in the care of the state, know their value and know who they are.